Everything You Need to Know for PD Nebraska’s Upcoming Showcases
We're setting a high bar for these summer events. Join us.
If you've followed my feed over the past week, you know I traveled to last week's Midwest Live Showcase in Des Moines. It was one of the earliest showcase dates on our summer calendar, and Iowa immediately set a high bar for every other state to strive toward. Let's meet that challenge, Nebraska.
Seeing all the high-end talent in Des Moines has made me eager to replicate the same thing in the Cornhusker State. We have two events on the horizon this July, and our goal is to get as many athletes there as possible. I'll be there too, of course.
The conversation starts now. If you need any additional information, this is the place to be. I've been to several of these showcases over the past few years, so I've gained insight into what you can expect. And, most importantly, we want to outline how showcase attendance can help an athlete's journey. This is all about covering as many names as we can.
Here's the early rundown.
First, An Incentive
If you missed our early bird signup period for either of our upcoming events, don't fret. We've got a discount code that's open to all:
Use code KingsleyDig2024 for a discount on the entry fee to the Nebraska Stock-Up Showcase or Nebraska Freshman Showcase.
What does a showcase look like?
I've covered Prep Dig Showcase events in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and beyond. The format has been fairly universal across these different locales, so I'll give you a sneak peek at what to expect.
After some early warmups, players will generally split up for positional drills you'd normally see in a practice gym. This is a way to extend warmups while also giving us an early look at player skill and athleticism. Drills usually move at a quick pace, allowing for maximum reps and athlete involvement.
The intensity builds as cooperative drills are added to the mix. This may be a three-on-three competition, situational drills, or other rotation-based exercises. We've seen some events group up players by class at this point, and that could be the case at our Stock-Up Showcase.
Finally, we compete. The core segment of any showcase is to unleash some live volleyball while rotating players in and out at a quick pace. It's also my favorite phase to cover.
Coverage--Before and After
Speaking of coverage, what can you expect from us?
Of course, live social media coverage will always be a staple of the showcase experience. We'll deliver some "top performer" graphics, videos, photos, and more.
I'll use these events as a launching point for some Instagram content, so stay tuned for more details as the event approaches. This platform has been a go-to in the volleyball community for some time, so I'm ready to hop on the bandwagon.
Then, there's the post-event coverage. Our pair of showcases will be the basis for a week--or more--of non-stop articles and player discussions. I'll be anxious to cover as many players as I can, and it helps to have BallerTV on board for replays after the fact!
Rankings, Database, and More
We've mentioned the player-driven approach to these showcases. What does that look like on the Prep Dig site?
Showcases are a crucial tool for updating and expanding our player database. Athlete sign-up includes core information like height, position, high school, and club. This gives us everything we need for a profile entry--or to refresh pre-existing profiles. We will also have a professional photographer on-site to provide a headshot for these profiles. Action shots, too!
This potential for database expansion is especially important for our Nebraska Freshman Showcase. Prep Dig primarily covers high school athletes (or 15s through 18s), so the Class of 2028 is still a great unknown for us. That will change this fall, and the Freshman Showcase is a surefire way to get a head start on our evaluations. Shoutout to the Nebraska 2028s in Des Moines last week!
Our showcase evaluations can also play a role in future rankings decisions. We always seem to have a handful of players who climb to another level at our summer events. Those lasting impressions are a central part of the showcase's value.
The Links
Here are the links for more nitty-gritty details. It all goes down on July 21.
